distressed

[dih-strest] / dɪˈstrɛst /

ADJECTIVE

upset

Synonyms

STRONGEST

afflicted agitated anxious distraught jittery miffed perturbed shaky troubled

STRONG

bothered bugged concerned discombobulated distracted dragged exercised harassed peeved ripped saddened shook spooked tormented wired worried wrecked

WEAK

all torn up antsy basket case bummed out bundle of nerves cut up disconsolate distrait fidgety hyper in a stew in a tizzy inconsolable jumpy shook-up shot down strung-out unconsolable unglued up the wall uptight wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm cool happy peaceful pleased untroubled

STRONG

unworried

WEAK

collected comforted glad joyful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As demand waned in the following years, companies conducted mass layoffs, leading private-equity firms to swoop in to pick over the remains of distressed assets.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

"I've worked in other homes where there's no air conditioning unit and residents would become agitated and more distressed," she explained, adding there were restrictions on how far they could open windows.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Over the last decade, large investors have renovated some 300,000 distressed homes to rent out.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

It definitely stands out, because judges do this only when they’re very distressed.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

We’re greeted by the grunts and complaints of distressed dromedaries.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Vocabulary lists containing distressed

"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Cry Me A River: Synonyms for "Sad"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

myPerspectives 6.3

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!